Many years ago, I spent several winter months in the small Greek island of Kassos.  There is a harbour and 4 villages on top of the 4 hills that surround Fry, the harbour town.  At the time, there were about 350 people living there permanently.  During the winter months, connections by air or sea with Rhodes, Karpathos or Athens were heavily dependant on weather and sea conditions, which means one could feel rather isolated and a good degree of fatalism was essential.  

The island, as most forsaken Greek islands in the late eighties, was host to the state’s “rejects”.  Costas the harbour master from Patras was a drunk who had caused a collision between two boats, Manolis the OTE manager(Post and Telephone state company) from Karpathos was a Nea Demoktratia (conservative) supporter when PASSOK was in government, Dimitri the Papas (Orthodox priest) had been caught gallivanting and the doctor was so young he had been posted there the time to grow a beard and look more professional before returning to Athens as a more mature and more credible doctor.  There were two Kafenions open in Fry during the day and only one taverna open in the evening, where all the “rejects” (and me) used to meet for a jolly supper of seafood and Retzina.

One day as I arrived to join my friends for supper, I found them in an unusual  a state of excitement.  The radio was tuned in to the local Aya Maria Kassos station and all had on the tip of their tongues the correct answer to the daily quiz question but of course none of them could say it.  I amazed them all when I gave the answer* and someone quickly dialled the radio’s station’s phone number and passed me the receiver.  The prize was a free drink in one of the Kafenions.  

The next day, fighting a strong Voria wind and a hangover, I staggered to a house where I’d been told I’d find the radio station.  What I found was a smoke-filled room with four boys in their early twenties, and what looked like a black box, wires strewn on the floor and several beer cans.  It turned out there was no prize voucher to collect and that Petros who ran the kafenion had been told to expect Y Gallida (The French Girl).

I stayed for the three hours their broadcast lasted and I was hooked.  It seemed the whole island was listening to the Aya Maria Radio station.  The phone kept ringing with songs requests from Vassiliki daughter of Fotoula for her second cousin Maria on her father’s side, or from Yannis O Trellos (the mad one) for his mate Yorgo. There was important information passed on, such as Yanni the fisherman telling his wife Vassoula that he’d be home late and to keep his food in the hot oven and there was even an interview with Manolis, a Kassiotis locally famous for his research on yawning.

It was local community interaction at its best.  It gave the islanders a sense of togetherness that is so important in isolated places and… you could get free drinks!

When I saw the Seahaven FM poster in the Transmanche ferry terminal in Newhaven, I was immediately taken back to all those years ago in Kassos.  Just like Aya Maria Station, Seahaven FM brings the Seaford-Newhaven-Peacehaven community together, supports local businesses and informs its listeners.  The only difference is the professionalism, which is evident as soon as you enter the Seahaven FM den.  The interview with Nick Mallinson and David Foster was very relaxed and yet very well conducted.  

        Unfortunately, their 2^nd test FM broadcast is over but they are continuing to broadcast their live programs on the internet.  They have applied for a Full Time Community Radio Licence and should know the outcome of their application before the end of 2008.

Please support them in any way you can.  They are doing a fantastic job.

Best cosmofil Regards

Babette

*Question: Which Cretan writer was shortlisted for the Nobel Prize?

Answer: Nikos Kazantzakis